LITTLE ROCK, AR - According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 20,000 ER visits across the nation involved televisions or televisions and furniture falling on children in 2010. Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) suggests ways to prevent them.
The most commonly injured area is the head, and these types of injuries can cause lifelong consequences or even death, according to a release from ACH. Recently, there have been about 20 fatalities each year across the nation.
"Local pediatricians are reporting more head injuries because of televisions falling, which is consistent with national data,"said Alison Rose, Home Safety and Regional Programs coordinator for the Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children's Hospital. "There is a perception that new flat screen televisions are not as dangerous, but they are heavy and can harm small children."
The ACH Injury Prevention Center provides these tips to keep your children safe from television tip-over injuries:
- Place TVs on surfaces designed to support them. Dresser drawers can be used for climbing, so it’s best to avoid placing TVs on dressers.
- Place TVs low to the ground and toward the back of the cabinet or enclosure.
- Use furniture straps to secure TVs to furniture, entertainment centers or walls. They cost around $10- $25.
- Know the weight of your TV prior to purchasing straps to ensure you purchase the correct size.
- Place remote controls, toys and other enticing objects away from TVs, not on top of them.
- If you are mounting your TV to the wall or ceiling, follow instructions carefully and make sure it is secure.
For additional safety information, contact ACH’s Injury Prevention Center at 501-364-3400 or visit
http://www.archildrens.org/injury_prevention.
